Jessica stared at the Spring Fling Court ballot. Picking the hottest sophomore guy in Forks should be easy, right? The obvious choice was the new guy, Edward Cullen.

It had been like something out of a movie the first day he enrolled. All slo-mo and close-ups and wind blowing. He was that gorgeous. Like Abercrombie gorgeous. Probably even hotter with his shirt off.

But when she offered to show him around, he's stared, mumbled no, and just walked away. Rude much? As her grandmother used to say, "Pretty is as pretty does, Jessica."

She sighed and circled Mike instead.

---

The Twilight Twenty-Five

Prompt 2: Awkward

Pen name: SophiaAnne

Pairing: Edward and Bella

Rating: T

He never talks to girls.

That's not entirely true.

He's never talked to a girl when he didn't know her response.

It's unnerving. Unsettling. Unnatural.

He steels himself, clears his throat. He can do this. She's a tiny thing. Human. He has himself under control now, won't lunge across the desk and eat her. Nothing to worry about. So what if he can't read her mind?

"Hello, I'm Edward Cullen."

She turns, regarding him with wide brown eyes. They're intelligent, assessing as they sweep over his face and then away.

"I know."

Eating her would have been simpler.

---

The Twilight Twenty-Five

Prompt 3: Crave

Pen name: SophiaAnne

Pairing: Emmett and Rosalie

Rating: T

He know she shouldn't stare. It attracts unwanted attention. He also know that sometimes she can't help herself.

He can smell the tiny creature strapped into the stroller. Perfect miniatures of arms and legs wave in the air as it coos. The scent is sweet, powder and soft skin.

He doesn't need to read minds to know she wants to touch it. Hold it. Feel the tug of small fingers, gaze into innocent eyes. She wants one of her own. More than anything.

"Rose."

His hand touches her back, leading her away from the one thing he can't give her.

---

The Twilight Twenty-Five

Prompt 4: Crusade

Pen name: SophiaAnne

Pairing (Character): Aro

Rating: T

Aro watches the parade of humans file in, their eyes wide at the wonders around them. Foolish lambs, tender, tasty, and straight to the slaughter.

But his delight in dinner is diminished by lingering thoughts of his previous visitors. Edward, Alice, Bella. Their potential is so great, so powerful, and yet untapped – used by them in the most mundane ways.

He is resolved. Opportunity will arise, or be created, to bring them back, and he will make it his mission to secure them as members of the Guard. Every vampire has a price; he needs only find their currency.

---

The Twilight Twenty-Five

Prompt 5: Erosion

Pen name: SophiaAnne

Pairing (Character): Esme

Rating: T

The loose ground crumbles as she slides one foot forward almost to the cliff's edge. She watches the bits of earth tumble and fall far below, separating first into tiny specks and then into nothingness.

She wants that. To be free, to fall into empty space, to make the pain inside that consumes and shatters her disintegrate until all that's left is cold earth.

Her hand lingers on the small cross around her neck for a moment as she murmurs, "For dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return."

She steps to the edge, closes her eyes, and jumps.

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